Sitting Volleyball, USA Volleyball a Big Part of Warrior Games

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 9, 2013) – Sitting volleyball and USA Volleyball are taking a big role in making the United States Olympic Committee’s Warrior Games a success.

More than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans will compete in the Fourth Annual Warrior Games that take place May 11-16 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Sitting volleyball is one of seven sports during the event, and USA Volleyball is taking a leading role in promoting the Paralympic discipline to individuals who embrace the spirit of representing their country.

In addition to the U.S. military branches of U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy/U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Special Operations fielding teams in this year’s event, the United Kingdom will also have a team competing in the event. Further, Prince Harry, the youngest son of Prince Charles’ and the late Princess Diana’s two sons, will take part in the Opening Ceremonies and watch a sitting volleyball exhibition match. He served in the British Army.

The sitting volleyball competition begins May 12 and runs through May 15. Back-to-back matches start the competition on May 12 at 8 p.m. MT, followed by two matches for each team on May 13 starting at 7:30 p.m. MT. The first two days of the sitting volleyball competition will take place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center’s Sports Center 1 and Sports Center 2. Pool play concludes on May 14 with matches at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Cadet Gym starting at 7 p.m. MT, immediately followed by semifinal matches at 8 p.m. MT for the top four teams.

The sitting volleyball bronze-medal match will take place on May 15 at approximately 6:30 p.m. MT at the Cadet Gym, while the gold-medal match takes place on May 15 at the same time at Clune Arena on the U.S. Air Force Academy grounds.

All competitions are free and open to the public.

Two-time U.S. Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball silver medalists Kari Miller and Heather Erickson are coaching the U.S. Army sitting volleyball squad at the Warrior Games. Miller served in the U.S. Army. Denise Sheldon, USA Volleyball manager of indoor high performance, and Tori Hoke, USA Volleyball coordinator of region services, are coaching the Special Operations team. Several other USA Volleyball members are involved in the Warrior Games as on-site workers or promoting the event.

Other events during the Warrior Games competition include archery, cycling, competitive shooting, wheelchair basketball, swimming and track & field. The armed services branch which earns the most medals will receive the Chairman’s Cup.

The competition, hosted by the USOC, is supported by the Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, USO, Fisher House Foundation, AT&T, BP, Budweiser and the Semper Fi Fund.